Meeting of Massey College Council

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6763, 22 January 1932, Page 5

Meeting of Massey College Council

activities are reviewed,

Hon. Sir George I'owlds presided over ft mooting of the council of tho Massey Agricultural College held this week, l'hcre wore nlso in attendance: Professor T. A. Hunter, Messrs. P. Levi, T. U. Wells, A. Morton, W. Terry, H. B. Stuckey, and N. Prancis. Professors Horen and Riddct wero also iu attendance. An apology for absence was received from Air. J. 1). Hall.

Tho principal (Professor G. S. Peren) reported as follows:—• “Farm activities: Shortly after tho last council meeting tho prolonged dry spell which had been experienced for tho best part of two months was broken by a good fall of rain. Sinco then tho weather has been .fairly good on the Whole, reasonable shoivers falling from timo to time. Unfortunately, strong Winds have frequently followed tho rain and rapidly dried up the ground. However, the amount of feed produced has been fairly satisfactory although one would like to see considerably more bullock feed on tho sheep farm. The goneral farm staff and students have completed the sowing of the farm crops according to tho programme presented in the last report and in addition have put in seven acres of rapo in paddock Ho. .12 on the Pahiatua block and six acres of soft turnips in paddock No. 31 on tho dairy farm. The rapo promises to be the best crop yet grown. A considerable amount of work has been expended on tho making of silage and the harvesting of hay for tho dairy farm, tho areas handled so far being 22 acres of tho former and 52 acres of the latter. Tho grass in the windbreaks on the terraco has been saved for bullock feed. Tho chou moellier and the swedes have all been horsehoed with tho exception of one paddock of swedes which has been sown on the flat. All mangolds and swedes on ridges havo been singled except tho last paddock of swedes to bo sown. Good progress has been made in tho cutting of gorse and lupins on tho accretion at tho back of tho pig section and an attempt is being made to eradicate the goatsruc in paddocks Nos. 35, 36 and 36 {dairy farm) by means of frequent grubbing. Unfortunately the seed ol this weed is brought down by floods and a certain amount of attention is always necessary to keep clean areas subject to inundation. A start has been made on the removal of tho bush in paddock 12 (dairy farm), the timber being cut into lengths suitable for tho common room in the refectory. The fencing off of tho rough grazing in paddock No. 39 has been completed and water has been laid on. The main farm road from the entrance gate to the dairy factory has been torn up with the aid of a scarifier and reformed. It will bo surfaced with fine metal from tho river as opportunities occur.

"The ewes and ewe lambs to bo kepi as hoggets have been shorn. Tho latter averaged 31bs. of wool apiece. The owes came out of tho wool in good condition, and the cull ewes to be fattened have done very well since weaning. All rams have been dipped. Parasitic worms have been very prevalent on fu"s coast and made their presence felt at an unusually early date. We commenced drenching early in December and with the exception of one mob all lambs have been treated twice. We are using tetra-chlorethylene on account of the presence of intestinal worms. “Poultry department: Whilst in Auckland during the holidays Mr. Kissling was able to secure eight imported Buff Orpington hens. This is one ot England’s best breeds, and whilst these birds are somewhat aged and we may have to secure a male ourselves, they are invaluable as a foundation for some breeding stock. Mrs. W. Warren is donating these birds, provided we allow her some of the young stock from them next season. Tho following is a list oi the stock on hand at Decmbcr 31, 1931: 1.00 first year hens, 180 second year hens, 150 first year hens, 180 second year hens, 150 first year hens, 10 cock birds, 75 cockerels (studs), 400 pullets, 13 imported Canadians, 4 geese. The total number of birds on tho farm is 1027, including 67 which arc competing in tho egg contest. Compared with last year, we arc carrying slightly less stock but all our young stock this season has been heavily culled and all surplus tnblo cockerels have been sold.

■ “Visitors: The following have visited the College during the period under review:—The Prime Minister (Hon, G. W. Forbes), -Dr. E. Marsden, Mr. Plane (England), Professor Hewitsen (late head of Knox College), Dr. Gunson (Auckland), Mr. Anderson (Kohimararnara), Major Jacomb (of Messrs. Jaeomb, Hoare and Co., Ltd., London), Mr. Zeeman (South Africa), Marton District High .School, Terrace End School.” Tho report was adopted.

Appreciation was expressed of the gift of eight Buff Orpington hens from Mrs. W. Warren (Auckland) and of the loan of a stud Romney ram. from Mr. J. W. Perry (Masterton) and a stud Ayrshire bull from Mr. J. G. Donald, Featherston. —They were accorded .votes of thanks. It was reported that the broker 's report upon the wool sold at tho Wellington January sale was as follows: “There is a small percentage of wool which is rather thin in staple, but otherwise the clip is a stylish one, with p shafty dense staple, showing lots of character. The fleeces are on the whole very oven and it is quite'apparent that tho breeding of this flock has been carefully attended to. Qualities range from 44’s to 50’s with bulk 46’s. The Wool is sound and well growif, light in condition, with good to bright colour. This is an attractive clip and will compare favourably with tho best Romney clips in the Dominion.”